javksy wrote:I tend to get lost when I start reading some new RC passage. I find that my notes were not helping me in any way before and that is why i stopped taking notes. I was rewriting the whole passage in just my words.
can you recommend any helpful tips on EFFICIENT note taking? I have done Manhattan RC guide but still did not find their note taking strategy helpful.
I'll echo Brent's sentiment here: the point of taking notes isn't to internalize the bulk of the passage. The text isn't going anywhere. It's to get a handle on the structure so that 1) you have a broad sense of how the author is building to her ultimate conclusion and 2) you have a map for finding details you'll be asked about later.
Say, for example, that I'd gotten a passage discussing the various physical properties of different types of rock. Paragraph 1 discusses limestone, paragraph 2 discusses quartz, etc. My map for that passage may literally be a single word for each paragraph:
1: limestone
2: quartz
etc.
If I get a question about quartz, I know I need to scan paragraph 2 to locate the relevant detail. So try that on your next passage - just a word or phrase for each paragraph to get a sense of the structure.
Two more things to consider. First, there's research indicating that the more interesting we find a topic, the better our reading comprehension for passages touching on that topic. This may sound obvious, but the gap in proficiency between interesting passages/boring passages is pretty astonishing. So convince yourself that you have an innate curiosity about whatever abstruse topic the test throws at you. Second, don't worry about time management until you've cultivated a process that you feel comfortable with. For now, focus on fine-tuning the strategy. Once you have your strategy down, and you're comfortable with the kind of outline you'll make or whether you'll plan to reread denser passages (I typically do this,) then think about how to ramp up the speed for a testing situation.
Last, you might find it helpful to post a passage you struggled with, along with the outline you produced. That way we can offer more tailored advice about where you might be veering off track.
